In March of 2021, I finally received my long-awaited Christmas gift — three months late and, needless to say, deeply disappointing. The olive oil shop my husband had ordered from was close enough that we could have driven there and back faster than waiting for shipping. Three months. No backorder notice. No delay notification. Just silence — and eventually, a package.

That experience lit a fire in me. I knew there had to be a better way to keep my kitchen stocked with the infused olive oils and vinegars I loved. We could have turned to Amazon, but supporting local has always been important to us. So that month, our search began — for a high-quality, American-owned and American-grown olive oil distributor that offered premium high-polyphenol olive oils, aged balsamic vinegar, and exceptional gourmet ingredients.

What we discovered surprised us. The majority of today’s so-called “boutique” olive oil shops are supplied by large food distributors. Nothing against big business — but that model didn’t resonate with who we are as a family or what we wanted to build as a business. So we dug deeper. We researched the finest farms, purveyors, and distributors of quality olive oil in the country, and ultimately partnered with a family-owned farm nestled in the heart of California’s Sacramento Valley.

Our farm partner produces a mono-varietal extra virgin olive oil that is clean, pure, organic, and proudly made in America. Because here’s something most people don’t realize — exceptional olive oil doesn’t have to come from Italy or arrive as an import. In fact, many store-bought and even boutique olive oils are blends of multiple olive varieties, or worse — quietly adulterated with low-quality filler oils like canola, safflower, sunflower, or rapeseed. Our olive oils are different. They smell fruity, fresh, and earthy, with that clean, calming quality reminiscent of freshly cut grass. That’s the hallmark of truly premium olive oil — and it’s exactly what sealed our partnership with the farm from day one.

A little about us — or rather, about the Olive Oil Lady behind it all.

I’m Karie Herring, co-founder and President of Oviedo Olive Oil. I cook. A lot. Having a variety of flavors and quality ingredients isn’t just a preference for me — it’s essential to keeping my recipes exciting, my family happy, and my children connected to the beauty and depth that great food brings to everyday life. I am a lucky gal to have a business partner and co-founder who has also been a fabulous Guinea Pig to my exciting recipes and creations. Without him as the official taste tester, we wouldn’t be able to provide as many quality recipes and cooking inspiration to all of you!

That passion for clean, purposeful ingredients — for olive oils and balsamic vinegar that actually taste like something — is why we founded Oviedo Olive Oil. We hope you love our products as much as we do, and that you’ll continue to share in our passion for delicious, honest food.

We’d love to hear from you. Shoot us a text, email, or give us a call with any questions, ideas, or just to say hello. Keep an eye on our Recipes & Specials page for upcoming events, promotions, and seasonal finds. And come see us in person — you’ll find us inside Oviedo Mall or online anytime at oviedooliveoil.com.

Welcome to the family.